200 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



An erroneous impression seems to prevail in regard to boxed 

 fruit. Some growers think that, in order to get a good grade of 

 fruit for boxing, it is necessary to sort out the fancy apples of a 

 variety, and thus to depreciate the value of the rest, which we pack 

 in the barrel. Such is not the case. To be sure, boxed fruit should 

 be first-class, but all such fruit is graded into different sizes, small, 

 medium, and large, all of the small fruit being packed together, 

 the medium by itself, and so on. If, then, an apple is first- 

 grade, as first-grade fruit should be, it will fall into one of these 

 sizes, and the smaller size is no less valuable than the larger. 

 Whatever we pack in the box, therefore, would be first-grade fruit 

 of the variety as it runs, sorted into different sizes, the pack and 

 the box being adapted to the size. (Cornell E. S. B. 298.) 



COLD STORAGE OF APPLES. 



In seasons with abundant crops, what is best to do with one's 

 fruit, sell at the market price, or arrange to hold it for future 

 advance? This question appeals to every one who has apples for 

 sale. To sell the fruit at picking time leaves little opportunity for 

 competition, and results in low prices and limited responsibility, 

 To keep the fruit for higher prices involves loss in the cost for 

 storage buildings and the liability of shrinkage and decay; also 

 extra expense in handling, danger from freezing in transporta- 

 tion, etc. 



From the nature of the case, conditions vary and the problem 

 is for the individual to settle. That cold storage of some form is 

 profitable is readily recognized. We have had in recent years 

 fruits of all kinds out of season and at prices within the reach 

 of most people. The economic problem is not to secure a high 

 price for a small quantity but an average price for a large quantity. 



Not many years since we depended almost entirely upon the 

 house cellar for tiding over a glutted market, and when there was 

 a slump on the market much of the produce rotted in the hands of 

 the producer. A certain few, however, even then solved the prob- 

 lem by proper handling, packing, ventilating their cellars, etc.; 

 and they invariably received fair returns for so doing. New 

 methods of storage have developed rapidly within a short time. 

 At present every city of note has its commercial cold-storage plant 

 and producers as well as commisison men are offered equal oppor- 

 tunities for rental. (N. H. E. S. B. 93.) 



Advantages of Home Cold Storage. 1. With cold storage at 

 home fruit can be stored quickly and without the injuries caused by 

 shipping. This is of especial importance if it is to be sold on the 

 local market. The shipping of fruit injures it unless the most 

 extreme care is taken. Fruit is often shipped to distant warehouses 

 and, after the storage season, is shipped back to the same locality 

 from which it came. This would be avoided by home cold storage. 

 Fruit should be stored as soon as taken from the tree. This is 

 impossible, when dealing with distant warehouses, but possible where 

 *iiere is home cold storage. 



2. Fruit in home cold storage can have the constant personal 



